Preparation for Sheep to Shawl competition at Salmon Arm Fall Fair, September 8

Our spinning group, The Thompson Treadlers, decided we needed the challenge of competition this year, and we submitted our entry for the Sheep to Shawl Competition at the Salmon Arm Fall Fair on September 8. The rules are no mechanical tools, all fibre must be handspun including the warp, only 10% of the spun fibre can be other than sheep's fleece, the loom will be pre-warped, and the fleece for the handspun weft may be washed and dyed ahead of time, but no further preparation is allowed beforehand.

After a couple of planning meetings, the shawl pattern is planned, the warp is now on the loom (hand dyed handspun Romney wool), the Romney grey lamb fleece has been hand dyed in shades of fuchsia, turquoise and burgundy, and the jobs alotted to each member of the team. Our meeting last night was to see how the weft fibre would look after being carded and spun to make sure we are on the right track, but no weft fibre can be handspun ahead of the timed competition.

We met at Sue Northcott's, setting up the equipment outside in her lovely back yard while being watched over by her llamas.

This is our team plus me (taking the picture). Left to right - Sue Northcott, Jennifer Wallace (spinners), Sheila Grant (pattern designer and weaver), Sharon Philip (spinner) and Terry Prehara (spinner and plyer).

This is the first batt being prepared on the Patrick Green carder.

This is me (Mary-Anne Smith) dizzing the batt off the carder.

And the dizzed batt was so lovely and soft, we thought it would make a good boa.

Teasing the dyed fibre.

And finally, we got to spin the fibre to see how it is going to turn out for our project. Everyone was very pleased with our end results. Now that our strategy is decided, on to the competition! Should be a lot of fun.